Lupin's True Love

July 21, 1973

Veronica groaned slightly as Lily picked her way to the door. Lily pulled open her bedroom door as Veronica hauled her blanket over her head.

"Sirius, if I know Vee, she's still sound asleep. We could throw a dungbomb into the room and no one would be the wiser." James' voice floated through the cracked door.

"If she hears us, you know I will blame you completely." Sirius' voice sounded like it was coming closer.

"You boys get down here and turn over the dungbombs!" Evelyn's angry voice became slightly muffled as Lily started to close the door.

"But, Mum, it's all in good fun!" James' voice moved further away from the door as Lily turned to Veronica's still body.

"Please tell me I'm dreaming, Lily." Veronica whipped the blanket from over her head. "I didn't just hear James and Sirius." She glared at Lily.

"If we had made a bet, you would have lost." Lily slammed the door causing Melissa to sit straight up on her pallet.

"I swear, Mom! I didn't do it!" Melissa shook her head slightly as she glanced at Lily and Veronica. "Oh. Sorry."

"That's okay, 'Lissa." Veronica tossed her pillow at Melissa. "We've got company."

"Company? What kind of company?" Melissa untangled herself from her blankets.

"James and Sirius are downstairs plotting our demise." Veronica rummaged through her bag.

"Are they cute?" Melissa hugged her pillow as Veronica nodded slightly and Lily pretended to gag. "Yes!" Emma sat up quickly. "Everyone up! We've got cuties in the building!!"

Jessica groaned as Emma tossed her pillow at Patricia. Patricia hugged the pillow as she pulled the blanket further over her head. "It's too early to get up, you guys."

Veronica smiled as she pulled the blanket off of Patricia. "One of the cuties is James."

"James?!" Patricia scrambled to her feet and tripped over her feet. "Out of my way, girls! I've got to get ready!"

"We all need to get ready." Lily rummaged through her closet. "I don't think any of us want the guys to see us in our nightgowns."

"Hear! Hear!" Emma pulled out her emerald t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans.

Patricia pulled on a pale blue sweater and a black leather mini skirt. She struck a pose while Veronica pulled on her lilac collared shirt, violet sweater and faded jeans. Lily pulled on a black t-shirt and a pair of crisp jeans before applying her make-up. Jessica stood in her white jeans as she pulled out a navy sweater. Melissa help up her lime green sweater, which clashed terribly with her dark navy pants. Laughing, Jessica held out the navy sweater while Melissa tossed her the lime green sweater. Patricia finished braiding Veronica's hair while Lily pulled her hair into a high ponytail. Finally ready, the group headed down to the kitchen. Veronica pushed open the kitchen door to bedlam.

"I can't believe you let James and Sirius talk you into buying dungbombs and then didn't bother to check them to make sure they hadn't brought any of them with them!" Evelyn poked Thomas in the shoulder while Daniel laughed.

"The two of you ought to be ashamed!" Rose glared at her husband from her position at the stove. "I thought you would know better, Daniel!"

"I told them that they could get the dungbombs as long as they didn't use them on the girls." Thomas glanced over at Daniel.

"That's right. We never said anything about them torturing you and Evelyn, Rose." Daniel's smirk seemed to grow.

"You put them up to this?!" Evelyn's glare swiveled between Daniel and Thomas.

"Considering you made me contact Acantha last night..." Thomas smiled slightly.

"...And pushed me into the fireplace, we figured that you deserved it." Daniel's laughter filled the kitchen.

Thomas saw the girls stepping into the kitchen. "Morning, ladies."

"Morning, Dad." Veronica moved over to Thomas, sat in his lap, and placed a kiss on his cheek as was their morning ritual

"Morning, dear." Thomas hugged Veronica.

"I thought you might like to know that James and Sirius were thinking about dropping a dungbomb in Lily's room." Veronica laid her head on Thomas' shoulder.

"Boys..." Thomas glanced over at James and Sirius. "I told you not to use those dungbombs on the girls."

"Sorry, Dad." James looked at his feet.

"It was James' idea, Mr. Potter." Sirius pointed at James.

"Enough, boys." Thomas looked over at the other girls. "Now, Veronica, aren't you going to introduce us to the rest of your friends?"

"Sure, Dad." Veronica motioned to the girls as they sat around the table. "This is Lily, Patricia, Jessica, and Emma. They're my friends from Hogwarts." Melissa looked up from the table. "And this is my best friend from primary school, Melissa Smokler."

Sirius Gripped Melissa's hand and kissed the back of it. "A pleasure, my lady."

Veronica climbed from her perch and shoved Sirius away from Melissa. "This drooling moron is Sirius Black." She pointed to James standing beside him. "Next we have James Potter."

"He's the one who belongs to Mrs. Potter?" Melissa giggled slightly as James ruffled his hair.

"Don't ask me how but he is her son. Next we have Peter Pettigrew." Veronica wrapped her arm around Remus' waist. "And this exceptional gentleman is Remus Lupin. He belongs to me."

Remus wrapped his arms around Veronica's waist. "Nice to meet you, Melissa." Remus placed a gentle kiss on Veronica's cheek. "I missed you sweetheart."

"Not as much as I missed you." Veronica ignored James and Lily making gagging noises nearby.

"Now I see why you girls warned me that they are disgusting." Melissa giggled.

Everyone laughed as Rose and Evelyn placed several platters of eggs and sausage on the table. James and Sirius attacked the food while Veronica reached for some toast.

"I thought last night was for the girls from school." Sirius bit into a sausage.

"Siri, we saw Melissa at the theater and Mrs. Evans invited her to join us." Veronica rolled her eyes as Sirius flinched at his nickname.

"Besides we made her an honorary Gryffindor." Lily poured herself a glass of juice.

"Do you think we could just eat without the third degree?" Emma ate a forkful of eggs as the doorbell rang.

"That'll be Mom. She wanted me to go shopping this morning." Melissa wiped her mouth. "I had a good time, Mrs. Evans. Thank you for inviting me."

"I'll walk you to the door." Veronica followed Melissa from the kitchen. As they walked along the corridor, Veronica frowned slightly. "I wish you didn't have to go already."

"Same here. We don't live in the same neighborhood anymore so we never get to see each other." Melissa wiped a stray tear from her cheek.

"Not to worry. I'll get Dad to bring me over to visit once in a while. And he can pick you up on his way home one evening." Veronica hugged Melissa.

"You know it was wonderful to see you again." Melissa opened the front door to reveal a short woman with frizzy light brown hair. "Morning, Mom."

"Melissa, I hope you had fun." Mrs. Smokler gave Melissa a hug before turning to Veronica. "Oh my goodness, Veronica. You certainly have grown."

"Thank you, ma'am." Veronica blushed slightly. "It was great to see Melissa again."

"I'm glad, dear. We were shocked to hear about your parents." Mrs. Smokler shook her head slightly. "I never did approve of the way they raised you. "I'm glad to hear that your friend from school had his parents take you in."

"Actually they were contacted by the Headmaster and he arranged it." Veronica blushed even deeper.

"At least you're in a happy home." Mrs. Smokler glanced around slightly. "You are happy, aren't you?"

"Very happy." Veronica smiled broadly as she turned to give Melissa a hug. "I'll see you soon, 'Lissa."

"Sure thing, 'Roni." Melissa squeezed Veronica tightly before turning to her mother. "We should get going, Mom."

Veronica waved as Melissa and Mrs. Smokler moved out of sight. She quietly closed the door and started back to the noisy kitchen. Thomas stopped her outside the kitchen door and pulled her into a tight hug. Veronica cried as Thomas set up several Silencing Charms to give Veronica some privacy.

Thomas pulled away from Veronica as the tears finally came to a stop. "Feel better?"

"How did you know that I was going to cry, Dad?" Veronica leaned against his chest.

"You're my girl. I'll always know what you're feeling." Thomas placed a kiss on the top of her head. "Come on. I think the boys are finally finished." Thomas held open the kitchen door.

Veronica glanced around the room at her growing group of friends and smiled as she returned to her breakfast.